Bill Hartigan of Plymouth, Mass., has a summer cottage on Saquish Beach that’s been in his family for 40-plus years. Saquish is at the end of the peninsula at the entrance to Plymouth Bay and is a community of 250 seasonal homes that are completely off the grid.
To power his home and get away from the kerosene lanterns the family had been using for two decades, Hartigan had solar and battery storage installed 25 years ago. His original batteries were 6V and 12V (aka the golf cart and automotive kind) but, when he decided it was time to modernize his battery storage, he chose SimpliPHI batteries from Briggs & Stratton Energy Solutions.
Utilizing LFP lithium-ion chemistry, the PHI 3.8-M batteries provide long life and safer operating conditions for the home and are safety tested to UL9540A standards.
He began working with Greg Aborn, president of Plymouth Solar Energy, and selected the SimpliPHI Lithium Ferro Phosphate (LFP) cylindrical batteries because of the safety and long life they deliver.
LFP cylindrical batteries run cooler, meaning they’re safer, more reliable and have a longer lifespan with 10,000 cycles at 80% DoD (depth of discharge). The Briggs & Stratton line of batteries can easily be scaled to increase capacity to 358.5kWh and they provide integrated solutions that are compatible with other brands. They can also replace lead-acid batteries and are AC or DC coupled for flexibility in off-grid applications.
In September 2022, Hartigan’s two PHI 3.8 batteries from the AccessPHI System were commissioned and integrated with his six solar panels. They’ve been performing seamlessly ever since to power the cottage’s water pump, lights, Wifi and TV, among other things.
“The installation was simple. It was virtually plug and play. I like that SimpliPHI produces and sells the custom bus bar to tie my two batteries together. It’s a nice clean setup and takes the guesswork out of me trying to figure out how to make the connection.”
Hartigan
The two PHI 3.8 batteries cost approximately $5,000 and Hartigan says the extended life they deliver is worth the investment. Plus, they’re significantly lighter than golf cart or car batteries.
“The battery storage system he has gives him the freedom to, at some point, switch his refrigerator and other appliances from propane to cheaper, less expensive electric models” He’ll save money with the electric appliances and he won’t have the hassle and expense of dealing with gas and propane deliveries.”
Aborn
In fact, the system has been working so well that Hartigan had SimpliPHI batteries installed at another cottage that he manages. Six batteries are now powering the well, heat, AC, lights and other functions at a house-sized cottage that has significant energy requirements.
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